["Section Chief Fuyukawa's new game has received unanimous praise from all testers! Even the president couldn't resist playing it for an hour!"]
["A game with massive potential! President Asai has decided to elevate The Binding of Isaac's promotional weight to A-tier!"]
["The Binding of Isaac is about to launch! The fourth department has already started promotional warm-ups!"]
["Minister Koharu privately revealed that this game has huge potential and might be NTsoft's first breakout roguelike hit. She also praised Section Chief Fuyukawa's abilities, calling him 'the most talented game producer in all of NTsoft, maybe even all of Japan!'"]
No doubt about it—once the internal testing wrapped up, news of The Binding of Isaac's stellar performance spread like wildfire through the company!
At first, the employees were skeptical.
A side project, made in just a month, in a roguelike genre they'd never tackled before?
When they first heard The Binding of Isaac was going into internal testing, most of the company wasn't optimistic. But to everyone's shock, it ended up snagging A-tier promotional weight!
A-tier is NTsoft's second-highest promotional slot!
Getting that kind of backing isn't something a single minister can decide. Even President Asai can't just call the shots—it requires convincing faction members and passing a vote at the company's general meeting!
Clearly, not only Asai but also the mid-to-upper-level members of the Asai faction, led by Minister Koharu, were incredibly bullish on this game. This was no case of the president hyping things up to save face!
The whole company was abuzz, everyone eager to see what The Binding of Isaac would achieve upon release. But Tetsu Fuyukawa wasn't caught up in the hype—he was dealing with a different kind of headache.
"You're saying you're starring in some kind of Electronic Music Girl live-action interactive game, produced by NTsoft's second department?!"
"No big deal, right? Aren't I awesome?!"
It was lunchtime at a restaurant near NTsoft's office building.
Looking at Sunflower Izumi, decked out in her JK uniform with a big red bow on her chest, beaming with pride, and then at Sayoko by the window with a helpless smile, Tetsu was utterly speechless.
The explosive success of Surrounded by Beauties didn't just rake in profits for NTsoft—it also sparked a wave of Japanese entertainment companies wanting to jump on the interactive game bandwagon to promote their artists.
It's not just about riding trends. When outsiders see a hot new genre and others follow suit, they call it "jumping on the bandwagon." But it's not that simple. A genre's success proves it has an audience and a market at that moment. Competing products popping up is just business as usual.
Still, Tetsu hadn't expected Sunflower Izumi to get herself mixed up in it.
Seeing his exasperated look, Sayoko smiled. "It's not a bad thing, really. Sunflower's about to go on break, and she'd just be lazing around at home. If she joins this project, we'll get to see each other more often."
"Exactly! What's the problem, Uncle? Don't you want to see me?"
Sunflower flashed a sweet grin, puffing out her modest chest. But after Tetsu shot her a withering glance, she deflated, sipping her milk tea sulkily. "Hmph! I can tell by your face you don't wanna see me! You just want to mess around with that vixen!"
"…"
Speechless again, Tetsu took a sip of water. "Seeing you more often is great, but filming isn't as easy as you think. It's exhausting. Sure, I wrapped my shoot in under three months, but for others, it'll probably take at least a year. By then, you'll be starting university. You sure you've got the energy to juggle filming and school?"
Sunflower had signed a short-term contract with Sistar, partly because she needed two more ear surgeries with a real risk of hearing loss, but mostly because she wanted to focus on her music studies. Everyone's energy is limited—doing two things at once and excelling at both is tough.
Tetsu knew this. So did Sunflower.
But some things were just as important as music. Flashing back to those moments when she saw Tetsu with Mitei Miyano, and glancing at Sayoko, who was fussing over Tetsu's shirt hem like a doting wife, a sense of urgency flickered in Sunflower's eyes.
Sayoko can't handle that vixen!
What if that vixen takes over and kicks me out later?!
Her mind replayed their cozy trio life, every little moment with Tetsu. A fierce reluctance surged in her eyes. Sipping her milk tea, she grinned. "I know! But I'm confident I can handle both!"
"…"
Sensing her determination, Tetsu sighed. "Fine. But don't sign anything or agree to anything yet. I'll head to the second department this afternoon to check things out."
"Are you going to see Minister Koharu, Tetsu-kun?"
Sayoko blinked. Minister Koharu ran the second department. Though there's a big gap between a minister and a section chief, Koharu was humble and approachable. Plus, with Tetsu's rising status, going straight to her wasn't an issue.
Tetsu nodded, shifting to let the waiter serve their food. "Yeah, I'll talk to her directly. I don't really know anyone else in the second department."
"Eh?! Minister Koharu?! That sweet-looking grandma? Our director said she's a big deal! And you're just gonna waltz in to see someone like that?!"
Sunflower snapped her chopsticks apart, her big eyes wide with awe, like she was thinking, You've got that kind of clout?!
"Don't look at me like I'm some nobody, alright? Outside of you, no one in my circle dares talk to me like that."
"What do you mean, nobody?! You stinky old man, I'll send you flying!"
"…"
After a noisy lunch, Tetsu didn't shy away from being seen with them. He paid the bill and brought Sayoko and Sunflower back to the company.
No surprise—walking into the office building with a voluptuous, sexy Sayoko and a slender, pure Sunflower drew plenty of stares in the lobby.
"Good afternoon, Section Chief Fuyukawa! Director Kawachi!"
"Good afternoon, Section Chief!"
"Whoa, seriously? Uncle's this popular at work?"
Politely returning bows to the greeting employees, Sunflower clung to Tetsu's arm, looking like a country bumpkin visiting the big city. She'd heard from Sayoko and the team about Tetsu's skills, but seeing it in person hit differently.
Her reaction made Tetsu chuckle. Ignoring her grip on his arm, he slipped one hand into his pocket. "You're like a cat, aren't you? All tough when it's just us, but out here with strangers, you're all meek and clinging to me—ow, stop pinching!"
"Hmph! Me, all talk? I'm just well-mannered, okay? But, wow, didn't expect you to be this big of a deal, Uncle."
In the elevator, Sunflower reverted to her wild self, playfully tugging at Tetsu's arm. But her eyes held a new glint of admiration.
Chatting away, they reached the fifth floor. Tetsu stepped out first. "Take her to Nogi's office to hang out. I'm heading to the second department."
"Got it," Sayoko replied.
Watching Tetsu leave, Sayoko looked down at Sunflower, playfully tapping her forehead. "Ugh, I didn't say anything in front of Tetsu-kun, but you're such a handful. Do you know how busy he's been lately?"
"I didn't think it through, okay? When the company said they were bringing us to talk about a collab, I just called you without thinking. Now I realize it might've caused trouble… Should I back out?"
Facing Sayoko, Sunflower lost her usual boldness, looking a bit sheepish.
Sayoko rolled her eyes. "You're such a troublemaker. Fine, I'll take you to the general affairs office. Nogi-senpai, the supervisor there, used to work under Tetsu-kun, so you don't need to worry."
"Gotcha, hehe."
The supervisor's an old subordinate…
Uncle's seriously impressive, huh?
Sunflower nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. But she still underestimated Tetsu's influence at NTsoft and Lightbird Studio.
As they stepped off the elevator on the sixth floor, employees bowed and greeted them the whole way, leaving the high schooler jittery. Thankfully, they soon reached the office labeled "Lightbird - General Affairs."
"Sayoko, what brings you here out of nowhere?"
Nogi, the older woman at the supervisor's desk, glanced up from her spreadsheet. The other staff in the office turned, their eyes lingering on the unfamiliar Sunflower.
With afternoon work pending, Sayoko kept it brief, explaining the situation to Nogi.
Nogi, a veteran who'd worked under Tetsu for years, had heard of Sunflower. She smiled and nodded. "Don't worry, leave her with me. You go get to work."
"I'll head back to work, then. Thanks for looking after her, Nogi-senpai. Sunflower, if you need anything, just ask her."
"Got it," Sunflower mumbled.
With Sekiro in development, even though Sayoko trusted Sunflower, business was business—taking her to the art or tech departments wasn't appropriate. Sayoko waved goodbye at the door and left. Alone in the unfamiliar corporate environment, Sunflower started to get nervous.
But soon, once the staff heard from Nogi about her connection to Tetsu, they turned warm and welcoming, piling snacks and tea on the table. If anything, their enthusiasm overwhelmed her even more.
This kid's the total opposite of the boss.
Nogi, with decades in the chaotic general affairs department, wasn't the most technically skilled but was a pro at handling people. Seeing Sunflower's discomfort, she shooed the others away and opened a bag of chips with a smile. "I've known Sayoko for years, so can I call you Sunflower, too?"
"Sure thing!"
"Haha, no need to be so shy. With your connection to the boss, you could strut through the southwest corner of this floor, and no one would dare say a word!"
Nogi's hearty, friendly demeanor put Sunflower at ease. "Is… is Tetsu-kun really that big a deal?"
"Oh, you bet! Let me tell you about the boss…"
Nogi, who'd worked with Kawaguchi for ages, was no slouch at spinning tales. Leaning in, she launched into a wild spiel about Tetsu—how his "kingly aura made Vice-Minister Yamazumi kneel and beg for mercy," how he was the "industry's brightest new star." Her over-the-top stories left Sunflower gobsmacked, her big eyes wide with shock. Uncle's that awesome?!
But Nogi wasn't done. Seeing Sunflower actually buying it, she felt a rush of satisfaction, sipped her oolong tea, and kept spinning tales. Meanwhile, Tetsu had reached the second department's minister's office.
---
"Yes, Kuroki Studio is indeed working on a game similar to Surrounded by Beauties. What's up?"
The elderly but elegant Minister Koharu sat behind her desk. Though seated, she didn't hold back her warm smile for Tetsu, a young talent she greatly admired.
Likewise, for a capable and kind senior like her, Tetsu didn't act as brash or bold as he might with Vice-Minister Yamazumi. Sitting properly on the sofa, he sipped his oolong tea and smiled. "It's nothing major. My little sister's apparently one of the actors, but she's starting university soon. I just wanted to check the details. If it's just a trial product…"
He was blunt, but Koharu didn't mind—in fact, she appreciated his straightforwardness. "You're different, aren't you? So direct. Alright, it's no secret. We're planning to give this game B-tier or C-tier promotional weight."
B-tier or C-tier?
Tetsu raised an eyebrow. Promotional weight reflects the company's level of investment, and B-to-C-tier meant they weren't prioritizing this project.
Nodding with understanding, Tetsu stood to leave, but Koharu looked up with a smile. "A lot of entertainment companies are jumping into this space, but since your game was the only breakout hit, the company won't invest heavily until we see more successes. However…"
However?
Tetsu paused. Under his gaze, Koharu removed her refined reading glasses and smiled. "If Section Chief Fuyukawa were to handle the story, I might consider bumping up the weight. Just the story—no need to worry about anything else."
This old fox!
No wonder Sistar didn't call Sunflower during lunch!
No wonder she wasn't surprised when I showed up—she's been scheming!
It clicked for Tetsu, but he didn't react much. Thinking back to Sunflower's determined look at lunch and recalling K-On!, he shrugged with a grin. "Me handling the story? No problem."
"Oh!"
Koharu's eyes lit up. If it was just Surrounded by Beauties, she might not have been so confident in Tetsu. But after seeing The Binding of Isaac's story, she knew—whatever other talents he might lack, his knack for storytelling was overflowing!
That's why she'd casually set this harmless trap. But under her slightly surprised gaze, Tetsu flashed a sly grin. "Doing the story's no issue, but you know my freelance rates… they're pretty steep."
"You mean—"
"Gonna need extra pay."